Excavating-machine.



E A. DEWEY.

EXCAVA'HNG MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED 056.15. ma.

Patented Apr. 8,1919.

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EXCAVATING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 15. 1913.

1,299,826., Patented Apr. 8,1919.

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@ZZ M 6] 00mm E.- A. DEWEYi- E'XCAVA TIN'G MACHI E, APPLICATION FILED DEC. 1.5. 1913.

1 Patented Apr. 3,1919.-

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E. A. D-EWEY.

EXCAVATING MACHINE. APPLICATIONFILED DEC. 15. 91s.

' 1,299,26 Patented Apr. 8,1919.

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3440c mtoz E. A. DEWEY. EXCAVATING MACHINE. APPLICATION FlLEDDE C. 15- 1 913.

Patented A r. 8,1919.

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APPLICATION FILED DEC.15| I913.

Patented'Apr. 8, 1919.

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TINTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ELLSWORTH A. DEWEY, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT-OF COLUMBIA.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apt. 8, 1919.

Application filed December 15, 1913. Serial No. 806,869.

To all whom. it may concern Be it known that I, ELLSWORTH, A. Dnwny, citizen of the United} States,;;;.:residing. at Washington, in. the District of". Columbia,

have invented certain new and usefullg lm provements in Excavating-Machinemzof which the following is aspecificatiomrefep ence being had therein to thezaccompa-nymg;

drawing. v y

This invention relates to improvements in excavating machines. I I

The invention aims to improve the construction of excavating machines and to provide an improved machine of this character for constructing drainage ditches, road sides thereof to cutand shape the side walls of the ditch and an excavating conveyer operating centrally of the excavating wheel and serving to convey the loose material out of the ditch. An important novel feature of the invent-ion resides in the special construction and arrangement of the cutters at the sides of the excavating wheel whereby clogging is prevented, a clean even out is obtained, and the cutters act to gradually feed or force the material cut from the sides of the ditch to the bottom thereof in the path of the excavating conveyer.

Another object of the invention is to pro- .vide an improved machine of this character which while of comparatively simple and light construction will possess great strength and durability. I

A further object of the invention is to provide for adjustably supporting the excavator mechanism and for elevating and lowering the same with a minimum expenditure of power and without subjecting the sup-- porting frame to extensive strains.

The invent-ion, with its advantages and the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts comprising the same will be understood from the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof and illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation of an excavat mg machine constructed in accordance with the present invention, some of the side cuti-ters of the Wheel being omitted for the sake of clearness.

, Figs. 2 and 3 are plan views, these placed vend' to end constituting a plan of the whole oftheffront portlon of the machine, with certain parts omitted.

. 1 is a rear elevation.

' F ggj5; is an enlarged detailed view of a "portlo'n of the excavating conveyer and the dumping mechanism for the conveyer buckets.

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the arrangement of the cutters.

Fig. 7 is a plan of one of the side outters.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken onthe line 77 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 8 is an edge view of the same and its connecting means.

9 is a side View of the cutter.

Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken on the line 99 of Fig. 9. I

Figs. 10 and 11 are a plan and side elevation respectively of the bucket filling plows.

Figs. 12, 13 and 14 are detail views of one of the plows and the structure for connect ing the same to the wheel.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4 of the drawings, the excavating instrumentalities and allied mechanism is carried by a main frame 1, which is supported upon and between a pair of tractors 2 and 3 extending substantially throughout the entire length of the machine at opposite sides thereof. Each tractor comprises an elongated or substantially oblong frame 4 and an endless tractor apron 5. The tractor frames, which are preferably constructed of structural steel and braced and trussed as-shown in the drawings, are provided at the bottom with longitudinal downwardly facing channels 6 extending along opposite sides thereof, and along the wheels 10 and 11 that are fixedly secured to shafts 12 and 13 mounted for rotation in suitable bearings secured to the under side of the front and rear projecting portions of the longitudinal beams 7, the usual rollers (not shown) at the inner side of the sprocket chains running in the longitudinal downwardly facing channels 6 which thus serve astracks for the lower runs of the chains. The tractor aprons are adapted to be driven to advance the machine during the cutting or excavating operation and in transporting the machine from place to place. The tractor frames are rigidly connected at their front ends by a plurality of superimposed transverse I-beams 16 resting upon and suit ably secured to the longitudinal beams 7, bracing 19 between the. I-beams 16 and the longitudinal beams 7 at the corners being provided. The main frame 1 is shown in the drawings as substantially triangular in shape and consisting of spaced longitudinal side beams 20 and 21 and oppositely inclined upwardly extending front and rear beams 22 and 23 mounted upon the longitudinal side beams 20 and 21 and connected together in pairs at their upper ends by an upper transverse beam 24, the front beams 22 and the rear beams 23 being connected with each other by bracing 23 as shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings- Mounted at intervals upon the transverse I-beams 16 are transversely alined bearing brackets 26 having spaced side portions and receiving a plurality of alined pivots 27 upon which the front portion of the main frame 1 is mounted, the main frame being provided at points adjacent the lower ends of the front inclined beams 22 and 25 with bearings 28 fitting between the spaced sides of the bearing brackets 26 and provided with -eyes or openings through which the transversely alined pivots 27 pass. The bearings 28 at the sides of the frame are secured to the longitudinal side beams 20 and 21 at opposite sides thereof, the pivots 27 at these points passing through the said beams 20 and 21. By this construction the main frame is hinged to the transverse I-beams 16 to tilt or swing upwardly anddownwardly to arrange the excavating mechanism for regulating the depth of cut and also for elevating said mechanism clear of the ground in transporting the machine from place to place.

The tractor frames (see particularly Figs. 1 and 4 of the drawings) are equipped at their rear portions with oppositely disposed derricks composed of oppositely. inclined front and rear bars' 30 and 31 mounted at their lower ends upon the inner side beams 7 of the tractor frames and suitablysecured together at their upper ends and braced by laterally inclined members 32 mounted upon outer projecting portions 33 of the tractor frames. The main frame 1 is adj ustably supported at its rear end by cables 34 arranged at opposite sides of the frame and connected to lower sheave blocks fastened to the main frame 1 and reevcdaround a plurality of sheaves of the lower sheave blocks 35 and sheaves of upper sheave blocks 36, which are fastened at the top of the derricks, the cables being arranged in a plurality of runs or stretches and finally extending from the lower sheave blocks forwardly along the main frame at opposite sides thereof to a pair of hoisting drums 37 controlled by means hereinafter described. The lower sheave blocks 35 are located substantially beneath the upper sheave blocks 36 being arranged slightly in rear of the vertical plane of the same, and the runs or stretches of the cables substantially coincide with the arc of movement of the main frame so that the lifting force is applied substantially directly above the load to be raised, thus enabling the main frame to be suspended, and lifted and lowered with a minimum expenditure of power and without subjecting the supporting frame to extensive or destructive strains.

.The main frame is provided at opposite sides with rollers 41 which engage members 42 of the derricks and serve to steady the main frame in its vertical adjustment.

The main frame carries at its rear end a transversely disposed shaft or axle 38 having its terminals arranged in hangers 39 and said shaft supports a rotary excavating wheel 40 which extends across the rear portion of the main frame in the space between the sides thereof. The hangers or bearings 39, to which the lower sheave blocks 35 are directly connected, are secured in any suitable manner to the rear ends of the longitudinal side beams 20, 21, at the lower faces thereof, and the transverse shaft or axle 38 is fixedly secured in the hangers and forms-a substantially rigid connection between the rear ends of the side longitudinal beams of the main frame. I

The rotary excavator wheel 40 (see Fig. 4) has a central cylindrical portion or section and outwardly tapered or conical side portions. The wheel comprises in its construction spaced central annular rims 43, central intermediate connecting bars 44 and outwardly converging cutter carrying bars '45 and 46, the cutter carrying bars 45 extending from the spaced central rims to the end hubs 47 while the cutter carrying bars 46, which are located intermediate the inner portions of the spaces between the cutter carrying bars 45, extend from the rims to intermediate transverse braces 52 that are located between the rims and the end hubs and form substantially circular braces for the conical side portions of the wheel and brace the long cutter carrying bars 45 against lateral displacement. The open frame constituting the side portion of the wheel is masses 1 also connected by bracing and tension members 53 and 54 extending from a central hub 55 to the side portions of the wheel. The bracing members 53 extend from the central hub to the intermediate transverse braces 52, and the tension members 54, which are connected at their outer terminals adjacent the intersection of bars 44 and 46, consist of rods adjustable in length by turn buckles or the like. The end hubs 47 are connected with each other by longitudinal tension rods 56 which coact with-the before mentioned tension members in placing the frame or supporting structure of the excavating wheel under proper tension, the connecting members, the cutter carrying bars, and the bracing members serving as compression elements, an open oppositely tapered wheel construction being provided which, while comparatively light possesses the required rigidity and strength. The central intermediate connecting bars or members 44, which are suitably secured near the inner ends of the cutter carrying bars are inwardly offset from the periphery of the rims to provide a central annular space therebetween for the operation of a series of buckets 48 of an endless excavator conveyer 49.

The cutter carrying bars 45 and 46 are equipped with cutters 57, which are adapted to pare or slice the earth in thin, narrow fragments or slices from the sloping or inclined side wallsof the ditch and to feed or force the severed earth downwardly and inwardly to carry the same to the bottom of the ditch in the path of the buckets 48 of the excavator conveyer. For this purpose I employ a special construction of cutter and a particular arrangement of the same on the excavator wheel as follows. Referring especially to Figs. 7 and 7 8, 9 and 9* each cutter comprises a substantially straight shank '57 and an outer terminal portion 57 The shank 57 extends outwardly from the outer face of the cutter carrying bar at substantially right angles thereto and rearwardly at a slight inclination, and the outer terminal portion 57 is curved and extended inwardly in the direction of the central portion or section of the excavator wheel. The portion of the shank 57 extending beyond the outer face of the cutter carrying bar is sharpened and the outer terminal portion 57 is sharpened to form a knife blade, and the said outer portion 57 2 is extended rearwardly at a slight angle to the direction of movement of the same. The cutters are arranged at intervals along the cutter carrying bars to extend in spiral rows or series I) and 0 around the conical side portions or sections of the excavator wheel as indicated by the lines 6 and c in Fig. 6 of the. drawings.

In the operation of the excavator wheel the cutters 57sliceor shear the earth from the sloping side walls of the ditch in small fragments or slices, the entire area of the side walls being uniformly acted upon by the cutters as they extend in spiral rows or series I) (see Fig. 6), the line 11 indicating how the cutters of each spiral row 6 act successively to cover the entire area to be .to feed or force the severed earth inwardly and downwardly to the bottom of the trench, the cutters cutting a thin slice and tipping or turning and moving the same inwardly toward the bottom of the ditch and in the path of the next succeeding cutter in the spiral row which operates in the same way, moving its slice with the other loose material thereupon inwardly. The curved outer portions 57 of the cutters are located a suflicient distance from the frame work of the excavator wheel to provide ample space for the passage of the loosened material in its downward and inward movement to the buckets'48, and clogging of the cutters by the accumulation of the severed material at the side portions of the wheel is prevented.

The end hubs (see Fig. 4) 47 carry terminal cutters 58, which are of substantially the same construction and arrangement as the cutters 57 previously described and which have their straight shanks secured to the radial flanges 58 of the hubs with their terminal. cutting portions or blades disposed in the same inclined plane as the cutting portions of the cutters 57 of the cutter carrying bars.

Now turning to Fig. 5 of the drawings, the excavator conveyer consists of a pair of spaced endless roller sprocket chains 60 and a plurality of excavating buckets secured to the chains at intervals between the same.

The endless excavator conveyer is arranged to operate centrally of the excavator wheel, being trained thereover with the endless roller sprocket chains in engagement with sprocket teeth 61 on the central rims 43 of the excavator wheel and also arranged over apair of front sprocket wheels .62 fixed on a transverse shaft 63 mounted for rotation in suitable bearings secured to the intermediate front inclined beams of the main frame 1 above and in advance of the excavator wheel. The excavator buckets, which are shown in the present instance as consisting of a continuously curved back and bottom 64 and end walls 65 are connected to opposite links of the sprocket chains 60 by transverse pivot shafts 66 arranged at the center of the are or curvature of thebac'k and bottom of the buckets. The buckets are provided with rearwardly extending arms 67 secured to the end walls thereof, and with brace members 68 extending over the rear ends of the said arms 67 to the bottom portion of the bucket. The rearwardly extending arms (37 are pivotally connected with short. links 69, which in turn are pivotally connected to the sprocket chains G0 to afford a flexible connection between the said arms and the chains for permitting the buckets to accommodate themselves to the changing positions of the links of the sprocket. chains in passing around the forward pair of sprocket wheels 62. Each bucket is provided at its front at opposite sides with curved laterally extending forwardly diverging wings 7 0, said wings curving from top to bottom and being braced by members 71, the inner curved edges of the wings being secured to the end walls of the bucket which are cut away at the front to conform to the curvature of the wings. The endless excavator conveyer is adapted to travel around the upper, rear and lower portion of the excavator wheel and the relative spacing of the buckets and cutter carrying bars is such that in passing around the excavator wheel the buckets occupy a position substantially at the outer ends of the long cutter carrying bars. The

buckets are provided at the front with straight transverse cutting edges 7 2, and the wings 7 0 of the buckets have cutting edges 7 3 extending outwardly and upwardly. The wings act to direct the loose earth into the buckets and also serve to shape the lower portions of the sloping side walls of the ditch to join the flat bottom of the ditch in a slight curve.

In order to insure the fillin of the excavator buckets I also provide plows 74 (see particularly Figs. 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14 of the drawings) arranged in pairs at intervals on the excavator wheel to occupy a position intermediate the buckets as the buckets travel around the wheel, a pair of the plows I working in advance of each bucket and serving to direct the loose earth into the path thereof. The plows 74 are adjustably secured to the excavator wheel adjacent the central rims by brackets which have attaching portions or flanges 76 suitably secured to the plows, and plates or flanges 77 arranged substantially at right angles to the attaching portions 76 and provided with inner curved slots 78 and an outer curved slot 79 through which pass bolts or other suitable fastening devices for securing the brackets in place on the excavator wheel. The plows employed have the general characteristics of the common type of plow but they are disposed on the wheel in inverted position.

Each plow 74 consists of a curved tapering share or blade having the cutting edges 80 and 80 terminating in a point 80 and said plows are adapted to be set, by adjusting the brackets 75, at'ditferent angles to the line of travel to suit the character of the soil being operated upon.

One stretch of the endless excavator conveyer extends upwardly and forwardly from the bottom of the excavator wheel tothe front pair of sprocket wheels and a top stretch or run extends rearwardly from the forward pair of sprocket wheels to the top of the excavator wheel passing over a transverse conveyer 81. The buckets traveling upwardly and forwardly are adapted to blade 84 and extending at substantially right angles thereto from the said blade atits pivot point. The outer ends of the blade and portions 85 are connected by a brace 86, and the outer projecting portion 85 has lateral projections 87 provided with anti-friction rollers -88. The blade 84 is of a. size to extend from the transverse pivot shaft 66 to within close proximity to the inner concave face of the curved back and bottom of the bucket and is adapted to work within the bucket to discharge the contents and to clean and scrape the interior of the bucket in its oscillatory movement on the pivot shaft 66. When the-buckets occupy an upright horizontal position their ejector blades 84 extend vertically at the front thereof, the said blades changing their position by gravity within the buckets as the angular position of the buckets change when carried around by the conveyer. The blades are forced rearwardly by the material as the buckets fill, the rearward movement of the'blades 84 being limited by stops 88 extending inwardly from the attaching portions of the rearwardly extending arms 67 at the top of the buckets. When the bucket is filledthe blade 84 of the ejector is held against the stops 88 by the material, the blade 84 constituting the top of the bucket while the same is traveling up the front inclined stretch of the conveyer and until the bucket passes around the front pair of sprocket wheels and is inverted, which brings the ejector blade 84 at outer blade 85 of the ejector engaging the cams 88, which retards the forward'travel of-the outer end of the blade 85 and causes a swinging or oscillatory movement of the ejector blade 84 through the bucket. The.

cams 83 which aresuitably fixed to the frame 1 in position at-fopposite sides of the conveyer comprise *stralght portions 89 which are inclined slightly to the rear, upper curved portions 90,and a rearwardly extending horizontal portion 91. The rollers 88 of the laterally extending portions of the outer blade 85 ride downwardly on the inclined portions 89 of the cams passing around the lower ends of the same and from thence up inclined guides 92 which extend upwardly from points in rear of the lower terminalsblades '84 at the front of the buckets. As

soon as the rollers of the laterally projecting portions 87 leave the tracks 93 the ejector oscillates by gravity on its pivot and in this movement serves-to scrape or free the interior of the bu'cketfrom any material clinging thereto. If any. of the buckets should be empty when traveling over the front upper stretch of the excavating conveyer past the cams, the rollers of'the laterally projecting portions, since the ejector blade is not held in its outermost position by the material as when the buckets are filled, instead of ridin downwardly on the inclined portion 89 0 the cams, they ride upwardly over the curved portions 90 of the cams and from thence to the horizontal tracks 93. The transverse conveyer 81, which is adapted to convey the excavated material to one side of the ditch or trench, comprises an inner stub section 95 and an outer pivoted section, a portion of the frame 95 of which and the point of its connection being shown to the right of Fig. 3 of the drawings, said pivoted section being of any of the well known or conventional constructions, the latter being of conventional form and not shown in detail in the drawings. The inner conveyer section 95 comprises a frame 96 having rollers 9798 at opposite ends. thereof, and series of intermediate rollers 99 arranged in angular relation to support the conveyer belt 98 in curved form as shown. The inner conveyer section 95 is pivotally connected at its front to the main frame by transverse pivots 100 suitably connected to the front outer inclined beams of the main frame, and said conveyer frame is supported at its rear by a pair of oppositely disposed link members 101, pivotally connected at their upper ends to thecon veyer frame at the rear thereof and each pivotally connected at its lower end to one of the tractor frames at 102. 'Thisparticular connection of the conveyer frame with the tiltable main frame and the tractor frames provides means for supporting the conveyer frame in horizontal position and for maintaining the same in such position irrespective of the vertical adjustment of the main frame on its pivot;

Extending along the rear side of the inner conveyer section is an apron which extends upwardly at an inclination from the C011? veyer and serves to direct material which may fall to one side of the conveyer onto the conveyer. The apron is connected at its upper end to the main frame, and at its lower end to the conveyer frame, the apron being extensible to accommodate for the change in the relative position of the parts when the main frame is adjusted vertically. The apron comprises an upper flexible portion 95 constructed of canvas or the like and a low substantially rigid portion 96 in the form of a plate preferably of sheet metal. The upper portion 95 is secured to and wound upon a spring roller 104 suitably mounted in bearings secured to the horizontal track portions 93 and is suitably connected at its lower end with the rigid lower portion 96', the latter being provided with hook portion 106 adapted to detachably engage a transverse rod 107 which is supported in brackets 107 secured to the conveyer frame. The spring roller places the apron under tension serving to maintain the same always substantially taut, the upper flexible portion I of the apron unwinding from the spring roller and being wound up thereon as the relative position of the parts change when the main frameis raised or lowered.

Any suitable means may be employed for supplying power for actuating the'excavator mechanism, and to the tractors and hoisting drums but I prefer to employ an engine 108 of the internal combustion type.

Referring to Figs. 2 and 3 the engine is suitably mounted on the main frame preferably at the front thereof. 109 designates the engine shaft and 110 is the main drive shaft mounted on the main frame l'and extending transversely in alinement with the engine shaft, with which it is adapted to be coupled'by a reversing clutch 111.

The tractors are provided with drive gear connections including large sprocket wheels 112 at the outer ends of the front sprocket wheel shafts 12, transverse shafts 113 provided with sprocket wheels 114 and 115 at opposite ends thereof, sprocket chains 116 connecting the sprocket wheels 112 with the sprocket wheels 114, and sprocket chains 11'! connecting the sprocket wheels 115 with sprocket wheels 118 at opposite ends of a main tractor drive shaft 119 suitably mounted on and extending transversely of the main frame 1. Power is adapted to be transmitted to the shaft 119 from the main drive 110 through an intermediate shaft 120, which has sprocket wheels 121 and 122 at opposite ends thereof that are geared respectively by sprocket chains 123 and 124 with a sprocket wheel 125 on the main drive shaft 110, and a sprocket wheel 126 on the main tractor drive shaft 119. This affords a more direct drive from the main drive shaft 110 to the tractors in transporting the machine from place to place. In order to provide for steering the machine, the main tractor drive shaft 119 is divided at its central portion and the sprocket wheel 126 is mounted loosely on the said shaft at the divided portion thereof and provided with clutch faces at opposite sides thereof to coeperate with clutch members 127 and'128 feathered respectively on the adjacent inner ends of the two parts of the shaft. Suitable hand levers 127 and 128' are provided for the said clutches and by operating the clutches the tractors can be driven independently of each other.

I also provide for transmitting power to the tractors to graduall advance the machine during the excavating operation in accordance with the work performed by the excavati (r mechanism. 129 designates a counter siaft arranged parallel with the main drive shaft 110 and adapted to receive motion from the main drive shaft through a reducing gear 130, which is adapted to be operatively connected to the main drive shaft 110 by a clutch 131. Power is adapted to be transmitted from the counter shaft to the intermediate shaft 120 by eccentrics 132 and 132 and lever and ratchet gears 133 and 134, the levers of the ratchet gears being suitably connected with the eccentrics and the eccentrics being disposed on the shaft whereby the levers of the ratchet gears are moved alternately forward and back to transmit a continuous rotary motion to the intermediate shaft.

The sprocket wheel 125 on the main drive shaft 110 is loosely mounted and adapted to be clutched to the shaft by the clutch 131, said clutch serving to alternately connect the shaft with said sprocket wheel 125 to obtain a direct drive, and to operatively connect the shaft with the reducing gear 130. The lever and ratchet gears 133 and 134 are provided with clutches 135 and 136 to clutch the same to the intermediate shaft 120, said clutches being operated to unclutch the o-ears 133 and 134 from the shaft when the cTutGh 131 is shifted to obtain the direct drive.

The transverse shafts 113 are mounted at the front portion of the tractor frames in axial alinement with the pivotal axes of the main frame 1, whereby when the main frame is swung vertically, the same spaced relation is maintained between the sprocket wheels 118 and the sprocket wheels 114 and 115 and these gear connections are not affected.

Power is transmitted to the excavating mechanism and the belt of the transverse conveyer 81 from the counter shaft by a sprocket chain 137 connecting sprocket wheel 138 fixedly secured to the counter shaft, and a sprocket wheel 139 on the sprocket wheel shaft 63.

The end rollers 9798 of the inner sec- ,posite sides of the main frame 1 on a drum shaft 150, which extends across the frame and is suitably mounted thereon, the drums 37 bein fixed to the shaft to rotate therewith. ower is transmitted to the drum shaft 150 from the engine shaft through a shaft 151 connected with the engine shaft bya sprocket chain 152 gearing with sprocket wheel 153 on shaft 151 and a sprocket wheel 155 on the engine shaft. On the drum shaft is fixed a worm gear wheel 156- meshing with a worm shaft 157 that has a beveled pinion 158, which meshes with beveled pinions 159 and 160 loosely mounted on the shaft. The beveled pinions 159 and 160 are provided with an intermediate clutch whereby either of said gears may be caused to turn the worm shaft and means afforded for rotating the shaft in reverse directions to raise or lower the main frame as desired, the worm gear serving as a lock for the drum shaft when power is not being applied thereto.

A rocker shaft 162 is connected in any suitable way to the intermediate clutch to actuate the same, and cables 162 are secured to opposite arms 163 of the rocker shaft and extend to opposite sides of the machine to hand levers 164 mounted on the tractor frames at the rear thereof, whereby the clutch can be conveniently controlled from these points. The hand levers 164, which are pivoted to the tractor frames are provided with short arms 165 to which the outer stretches of the cables are secured.

167 designates a drum adaptedto be employed to raise and lower the outer pivoted section of the transverse conveyer. A worm gear 167, reversing gears 168-and 169, and a clutch for the drum are provided similar to that provided for the hoisting drums 37, hereinbefore described, except that in this instance the drum is loosely mounted on the drum shaft and is controlled by a lever 170 mounted at the front of the main frame.

The drawings illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention and it will be rangement of parts shown may be made 4 vey the loose material from the bottom of without departing from thebroad principle I of the invention, the scope of which is defined in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. An excavating machineincluding a rotary excavator wheel having a conical side portion provided with cutters to make a side wall of the ditch inclined, said cutters having means to force the loose material to one side of the line of travel thereof downwardly and inwardly toward the bottom of the ditch. p

2. An excavating machine including a rotary excavator wheel having a conical-side portion provided with cutters to make a side wall of the ditch inclined, the cutters having means to force the loose material to one side of the line of travel thereof downwardly and inwardly toward the bottom. of the ditch, said cutters being disposed on the conical side portion of the wheel to extend in spiral rows thereover. v

3. An excavating machine including a. rotary excavator wheel having a conical side portion provided with cutters to make a side wall of the ditch inclined, said cutters having meansto force the loose material to one side of the line of travel thereof downwardly and inwardly toward the bottom of the ditch, and a conveyer operating at the base of the conical side portion of the wheel to convey the loose material from the bottom of the ditch. i

4. An excavating machine including a rotary excavator wheel having a conical side portion provided with cutters to make'ffa side wall of the ditch inclined, said cutters having means to force the loose material to one side of the line of travel thereof downwardly and inwardly toward the bottom of the ditch, a conveyer operating at the base of the conical side portion of the wheel to convey.

the loose material from the bottom of the ditch, theconveyerv being provided with buckets to receive the excavated material, said buckets having laterally extending wings arranged to gather and direct the loose material within the buckets.

5. An excavating machine including a rotary excavator wheel having a conical side portion provided with cutters to make a side Wall of the ditch inclined, said cutters having means to force the loosematerial to one side of the line of travel thereof downwardly and inwardly toward the bottom of the ditch, aconveyer operating at the base of the conical side portion of the wheel to conthe ditch, the conveyer being provided with buckets to receive the excavated material, and plows on the excavator wheel adjacent the base of the conical side portion and arranged to operate between the buckets of the conveyer.

6. An excavating machine including a 1'0- tary excavator wheel having a-conical side portion provided with. cutters arranged to make a side wallof the ditch inclined, said cutters comprising a shank extending outwardly from the conical side portion and an outer cutting portion spaced from the .conical side portion and extending laterally and rearwardly at an angle to the shank portion.

7. An excavating machine including a rotary excavator wheelhaving a conical side portion provided with cutters to make a side wall of the ditch inclined, said cutters having substantially flat'blade'sections inclined inwardly toward the base of the conical side portion of the wheel.

8.v An excavating machine including a rotary excavator wheel having a conical side portion rovided with cutters arranged to make a side wall of the ditch inclined, each of said cutte 's having cutting portions spaced from the conical side portion of the wheel, and'extending inwardly toward the base of the conical portion and also extendtary excavator wheel having a conical side portion provided with cutters to make a side Wall of-the ditch inclined, each of said cut ters comp-rising a shank portion! extending outwardly from the conical side portion of the wheel, and an outer substantially flat blade portion curving inwardly from the said shank portiontoward. the base of the conical portion of the wheel.

10. An excavating machine including a rotary excavator wheel having a conical side port-ion provided with cutters to make a side wall of the ditch inclined, the cutters being disposed on the conical side portion to extend in spiral rows thereover, each of said cutters having a cutting portion spaced from the conical side ortion of the wheel, and extending inwardly toward the base of the conical side portion, and also extending rearwardly at an angle to the line of travel of the cutters.

11. An excavating machine including a rotary excavator wheel having a conical side portion provided with cutters to make a side wall of the ditch inclined, each of said cutters comprising straight shanks extend ing outwardly from the conical side portion, and an outer curved portion extending inwardly and rearwardly toward the base of the conical portion.

12. An excavating machine including a to, and an outer curved cutting portion extending inwardly and rearwardly toward the base of the conical portion.

13. An excavating machine including a rotary excavator wheel having conical side portions provided with cutters to make the side walls of the ditch inclined and having means to feed the loose material downwardly and inwardly toward the bottom of the ditch, and a conveyer operating centrally of the wheel to convey the loose material upwardly from the bottom of the ditch, said conveyer having buckets to receive the excavated material, said buckets being provided with laterally extending wings at the front thereof arranged to gather and direct the loose material within the buckets.

14. An excavating machine including a rotary excavator wheel having conical side portions provided with cutters to make the side walls of the ditch inclined and having means to feed the loose material downwardly and inwardly toward the bottom of the ditch, and a conveyer operating centrally of the excavator wheel to convey the loose material upwardly from the bottom of the ditch, and plows mounted centrally of: the wheel to direct the material in the path of the conveyer. 15. An excavating machine including a rotary excavator wheel having conical side portions provided with cut'ters to make the side walls of the ditch inclined and having means to feed the loose material downwardly and inwardly toward the bottom of the ditch, and a conveyer operating ccn-' tra-lly of the excavator wheel and having buckets to convey the loose material upwardly from the bottom of the ditch, and plows at the central portion of the wheel disposed in inverted position: to operate in advance of the buckets.

16. An excavating machine including a rotary excavator wheel having conical side portions provided with cutters to make the side walls of the ditch inclined and having means to feed the loose material downwardly and inwardly toward the bottom of the ditch, a conveyer operating centrally of the excavator wheel and havin buckets to convey the loose material upwar ly from the bottom of the ditch, and plows arranged in pairs mounted at the central portion of the wheel to operate between the buckets to direct the excavated material within the path of the same.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

, ELLSWORTH A. DEWEY.

Witnesses:

-' JAS. E. HUTCHINSON,

GEO. D. RILEY. 

